Corn silker



Dec. 1, 1931. A N 1,834,047

CORN SILKER Filed March 8. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l TTORNEYS.

Dec. 1, 1931. F. D. CHAPMAN 1,834,047

CORN SILKER Filed March 8. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y5 staggered relation vertically.

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 cnrran STA-TESL PATENT OFFICE" FRANK n. CHAPMAN, or" BERLIN, WISCONSIN CORN SILKER Application filed March 8, 1929. Serial No. 345,407.

This invention relates to improvementsin corn silker.

It is one of the objects of the'present invention to provide a corn silker in which a hy- 5 draulic means is used for dislodgingthe silk from the removing members.

A further object of the invention is to provide a corn silker havin intermittently movable silk removingmembers for separating 10 the silk from the kernels of corn and -in which the sill: is automatically cleaned from the members during each revolution of said members and without the necessity of stop ping the machine.

15 A further object of the invention is to provide a corn silker in which the silk and other foreign particles are removed from the flowing stream of corn by intermittently rotat ed radially extending tines, and the silk and toreign particles are removed from the t nes by jets of water in a very simple manner.

A. further object of the machine is toprovide acorn silkerhavingradial tines which are in spiral formation to form the tines in A further obj ect of the invention is to provide corn silker havin means for separating cobsor other foreign matter from the kernels of corn before said kernels are eniiil gaged by he desilking tinesof the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a corn silker which is of simple con struction, is strong and durable and is well adapted for the purpose described. WVith 7 the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved corn silker and its parts and comb nations as set-forth n the elanns and all equivalentsthereof.

In the accompanying drawings in'whic'h the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

l is a vertical sectional View of the improved corn silker taken on line 11 of Fig. 2; i i

Fig. 2 is -a central vertical sectional View taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; i I

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken on line 33 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional detail view on a larger scale of some of the silk removing tines and the spray means for removing the silk therefrom; a.

- Fig., 5 is a front View of the parts-shown in Fig. 4; I V Fig. 6 is a top view of the means-for intermittently operating the silk removing element of the machine; 1

F ig. 7 is a sectional detail view taken on line of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a transversesection through the silker. taken on line 88 of Fig. l.

7 Referring to the drawings the numeral 8 indicates a rectangular frame having one portion 8' extending to a greater height than the other. cylindrical tank or receptacle 9 is supportedmidway of the height of the frame and its central portion is positioned between the higherframe members:8'.. The bottom portion 10 .ot the receptacle from a point centrally of the receptacle and in alinement with the higher frame membersS inclines downwardly, outwardly to :opposite discharge spouts 11 and 12 formed on the oppo sitesides of the receptacle. The spout llis adapted to discharge the silk, water and other foreign particles: while the spout 12 discharges :the kernels of corn. A vertical shaft 13 extends centrally between the frame members 8 and upwardly through and is journale-d in bearings 14 and 14 mounted onthe frame, and above the bearings 14. is provided I with a ratchet wheel 15. The lower end por: tion of the shaft l3 -below the lower bearing. letcarries a silk removing cage or wheel member 16 inthe form ofan upper wheel or spider 17 to which are-connected the upper ends of downwardly and obliquely extending spaced rods 18. The lower ends of saidrods are connected to a ring 19 spaced a short distance i above the; angular bottom-portion 10. This an uninterrupted line of tines during the rotation of said member.

2 A partition 21 mounted on the higher central portion of the bottom part 10 extends upwardly into the silk removing member 16 and divides the space within said member into two compartments extending longitudinally of the machine. The said partition is slightly less in size than the interior of the removing member in order not to interfere with the rotation of the said removing member.

On the corn spout side of the machine and above the removing member tines 20is formed a downwardly inclined supplemental frame 22 provided with bearing rollers 23 and 24. Aitubular open ended and downwardly inclined screen member 25 is journaled on the rollers 23 and at its lower end is formed with a flanged band 26 which. bears on the lower rollers 23 and maintains the screen member in position; The upper end of the screen member is also provided with a band 27 which bears on the upper rollers 23, and said band is provided with gear pins 28 by means of which the screen member is rotated.

A second or inner tubular open ended screen member 29' extends concentrically through the outer screen member 25 and at its lower end is provided with a flanged band 30 which bears on the lower rollers 24 to sup port and maintainsaid' inner screen member in position. The I upper end of the inner screen member is provided with a flanged.

band 31 which bears on the upper rollers 24. Said upper end is also provided with a spoked head or member 32 to which a shaft 33 is connected. The shaft extends outwardly and is journaled in the supplemental frame and adjacent the bearing portion of said frame the shaft hasmounted thereon a gear 34 for rotating the shaft and the inner screen member '29 The flanged band 31 is also provided with gear pins 35'similar to the pins 28 and a pin ge'ar36 journaledon a shaft 37 extending throughthe supplemental frame is in meshwith both pin gears and transmits rotation in a reverse direction from the inner to the outer screen member 4 A main drive shaft 38'-journal ed on the upper portion of the frame and extending from one end ofthe machine to the other is provided with drive pulleys 39and 40 on one 7 end and a gear 41 at its opposite end which .65 is inmesh with a gear 42 mounted on the shaft 37. Saidgear 42 is in mesh with the gear 34 before mentioned to transmit rotation from the-mainshaft 38 to the spiral member shaft33. 1 V

1 A hopper 43 positioned above the shaft 33 is formed witha lowerchute portion 44 which extends around the shaft 33 and into the I open flanged end of the inner screen member 29 to feed the corn from the hopper 7 into the vinner screen member. spiral or other conveyer means 45 may be mounted on the shaft 33 within the chute 44 to move the corn therethrough and into the inner screen member 29.

The lower half portion of the outer screen member is inelosed by a casing or hopper member 46 which directs the flow of kernels of corn and silk directly upon the tines on the side of the remover cage adjacent the corn discharge spout 12. A chute 47 encirclingthe lower half rear end portion of the outer screen member and projecting outside of the case 9 directs cobs silk and other foreign matter not passing through the meshes of the'screen members outwardly from the casing 9.

I The drive shaft 38 is also provided with a small gear or pinion 48 which is in mesh with a small gear 49 journaled on a stud shaft 50 projecting from the frame 8. Said gear or pinion 49 is formed with a projecting eccentric portion 51 which is engaged by a link 52. The outer end of the link is pivotally connected to the outer end of an arm 53 which is fulcrumed on the shaft 13 of the ratchet wheel 15; A spring actuated pawl 54 pivotally connected to the outer end portion of the arm 53 engages the teeth of the'ratchet wheel 15 to intermittently rotate the ratchet wheel and the silk remover cage 16.

' A water supply pipe 55 controlled by a valve 56 is provided with an angle fitting 56 from which three spaced jet tubes or pipes 57 project. Said tubes extend upwardly within the cage and at angles parallel to the angles of the cage bars' 18and adjacent thereto. The tubes are spaced apart predetermined distances with respect to the cage bars, and the jet openings 58 are arranged in horizontal alinement with the tines 20 so that the jets of water from the tubes will strike the opposite sides of the tines close to the rods 18 and'force the silk or. other foreign matter outwardly and oflf the ends of the tines. As thus arranged each tine will first be subjected to a single jet of water close to the rod 18 to which it is connected to start the movement of the'silk or foreign matter outwardly. A further intermittent movement of the cage 16 will advance the tine between the next two water tubes 57 and the'jets of water from these tubes will impinge against opposite sides and along the length of the tine and cause a further movement of the silk or foreign matter along the tine until it drops off the outer end and is discharged with the water through'the spout 11. The intermittent movement of the remover cage is timed so that at each period of rest the adjacent rods will be positioned instaggered relation to the water tubes to receive the jets of water While the cage is at rest and asthe jets .Wlll force the water approximately parallel to and along the, length of the tines all of the silk and foreign matter will be removed h refrom.

iii)

In use the corn or other like material is supplied to the hopper and will be moved by the conveyor therethrough and into the inner rotary screen member 29. This screen member will permit the kernels of-corn to pass through the screenand into the outerrotary' screen and thelcobs and some of the silk which has been screened from the corn will be discharged from the lower end of the inner screen on to the discharge chute 47 and in turn be discharged therefrom from'the machine. The outer rotary screen will also separate some of the foreign matter from the corn and it will also be discharged into the chute 47. The kernels of corn will flow from the outer rotary screen into the hopper 46 and said hopper willdirect the corn in a steady stream upon the tines on the side of the cage 16 adjacent the discharge chute 12 As the oblique arrangement of the rods 18 will position the tines of one rodin overlapping relation, verticallywith respect to the tines of the next adjacent rod the kernels of corn will follow a zigzag course in passing between the tines and all of the silk be removed therefrom and retained on the tines; The kernels of corn will flow upon the in clined bottom portion 10 and be discharged through the corn chute l2 for other disposition.

The tines carrying the 'silkwillbe moved into register with the jets of water which will force the silk from ends of the tines as before described. As'the cage or reel is intermittently rotated the period of time the tines are at rest while in register with the jets is sufiicient to permit the water to force the silk or other foreign matter from the tines, and the silk willbe discharged with the water through the discharge chute 11-.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the corn silker is of very simple construction and is well adapted for the purpose described.

What I claimas my invention is a 1. A corn silker, comprising a rotary cage member having oblique vertically extending rods provided with approximately radially extending laterally moving tines, means for directinga stream of corn downwardly on and between the'tines on one side portion of the cage member, a nd-meansextending within the cage for directing jets of water outwardly through another side portion of the cage member and on opposite sides of one of the obliquely extending rods and along the tines thereof to discharge the silk from the tines at their end portions.

2. A corn silker, comprising a frame, a re-' wardly inclined rotary screen positioned above the tines on one sideof the cage member for screening corn and discharging the corn in a stream upon the tines to remove the silk from thecorn, means for intermib tently rotating the cage'member, means for rotating the screen, and means extending into the cage member for "directing jets of water outwardly through another side portion of the'cageand on opposite sides of one of the obliquely extending rods and along the tines thereof 'to'discharge the silk from the tines at their end'portions.

- 3. Acorn silker, comprising a frame, a receptacle having discharge spouts, a rotary cage member having a verticallyextending shaft journaled in the frame, said cage member also having oblique vertically extendingrods provided with outwardly projecting tines which are staggered vertically, a pair of concentric downwardly inclined rotary screens positionedabove the tines on one side of the cage member for screening the corn and discharging the corn in 'a stream between the tines toremove the silk from the corn, means for intermittently rotating the cage member, means for rotating the screens'in opposite directions, and perforated pipes extending into the cage member for directing jets of water between the oblique bars and along the opposite sides of-the tines of one of the-oblique rods. Q

4. A corn sill-ier, co1nprising a frame, a receptacle having oppositely inclined bottom portio ns and discharge spouts and a 0911 tral vertical partition, a rotary cage member having an open bottom portion which extends around the partition and also having a verticallvextending shaft which is. journaled in the-frame. a1ratchet wheel mounted on the frame, said cage member also hav in g oblique vertically extending spaced rods provided with spaced outwardly projecting tines which are staggered vertically, a pair ofdownwardly inclined rotary screens positioned above the tines on one side of the cage member for screening corn and discharging the corn in astream upon the tines to remove the silk from the corn. perforated tubes ext-ending into the cage and positioned to direct jets of water along some of the tines on one side of the partition to remove silk from said tines, one of said screens extending through the other, a hopper for feedins: corn into the inner screen, a hopper for directing corn from the outer screen on to the tines on the opposite side of the partition to that occupied by the tubes, a. main driving shaft having a geared driving means with the inner screen, a geared connection between thetwo screens'for rotating the outer screen in a reverse direction to the direc tion of rotation of theinnerscreen, and a pawl means actuated by the main shaft and its ilo

engaging the ratchet wheel for intermittently rotating the cage member.

5. A corn silker, comprising a'frame, a receptacle having oppositely inclined bottom portions and dischargespouts and a central vertical partitioma rotary cage mem her having an open-bottom portion which extends around the partition and-also hav-l ing a vertically extending shaft which is journaled inthe frame, a ratchet -wheel mounted on the frame, said cage member also having oblique vertically extending spaced rods provided with spaced outwardly projecting tines which are staggered vertically, a pair of downwardly inclined rotary screenspositioned above the tines on one side of the cage member for screening corn and discharging the corn in a stream upon thetines to remove the silk from the corn and discharge it through the adjacent discharge spout, rollers upon which the screens are supported, perforated tubes extending .into the cage and positioned to direct jets of water along some of the tines on one side of the partition to remove silk from said tines, one of saidscreens extending through the other, a hopperfor feeding corn into the inner screen, a hopper for directing corn from the outer screen on to the tines on the opposite side of the partition to that occupied by the tubes, a: main driving shaft having a geared driving means with the inner screen, a geared connection between the two screens for rotating the outer screen in a reverse direction to the direction of rotation of the inner screen, and a pawl means actuated by the main shaft and engaging the ratchet wheel for intermittently rotating the cage member.

6. A corn silker comprising a hopper, a rotary screen for receiving'corn from the hopper, a rotary member formed in part of obliquely extending rods having spaced tines projecting therefrom in staggered relation vertically for laterally intercepting the stream of corn from the screen and removing the silk from the corn, and perforated tubular means in parallel relation to the rods for directing jets of water along the tines to remove the silk therefrom at their end portions.

7. A corn silkercomprising. a movable car rier having a plurality of tines projecting therefrom and movable thereby along fixed substantially horizontal planes, said tines being supported only at the carrier ends thereof and having free opposite ends, means for directing a stream of corn downwardly upon said tines to cause the same to catch and to remove silk from the kernels, and means for subsequently directing jets of water along said tines toward the free ends thereof to remove the accumulated silk. I

8. A corn silker comprising, an endless carrier having a plurality of tines projecting therefrom and movable thereby along fixed p'athswith the tines maintained in substantially horizontal position, said tines being supported only at the carrier ends thereofand having free opposite ends, means for precipitating corn over said tines to cause the same to catch and to remove silk from the kernels, and means for directing jets of water along said tines toward thefree ends thereof to remove the accumulated silk. 7,

9. A corn silker comprising, means for su porting a plurality of tines at their inner ends only and for moving the same in succession along fixed substantially horizontal planes, means for precipitating corn over said tines to cause the same to catch and to remove silk from the kernels, and means for subsequently directing jets of water along said tines to ward the unobstructed free ends thereof to remove the accumulated silk.

10. A corn silker comprising, means for supporting a plurality ofsuperimposedstaggered' series of tines and for moving the tines of each series in succession along a fixed substantially horizontal plane, means for precipitating corn over said tines to cause the same to catch and to remove silk from the kernels, and means for subsequently directing'jets of water along said tines toward the unobstructed free ends thereof to remove the accumulated silk.

11. A corn silker comprising, an endless carrierhaving a plurality of tines projecting therefrom and movable laterally thereby, means forprecipitating corn over said tines on one sideof said carrier to. cause said tines to catch and to remove silk from the kernels, and means for directing jets of water along said tines toward the free ends thereof on the opposite side of said carrier to remove the accumulated silk.

12. A corn silker comprising, an endless carrier having a'plurality of superimposed staggered series of tines movable laterally and substantially horizontally by said carrier, means for precipitating corn over said. tines on one side portion of said carrier to cause said tines to remove silk from the kern'els, and'means' for directing jets of water along said tines toward the free ends thereof on another side portion of said carrier to remove the accumulated silk.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

FRANK 1). CHAPMAN. 

